Three-dimensional image display device and driving method thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a 3D image display device and a driving method thereof. The 3D image display device includes a panel, a barrier panel, an image collector, and a timing controller. The panel includes a plurality of left-eye pixels and right-eye pixels. The barrier panel is disposed at a front surface of the panel, and includes a light transmitting area and a light blocking area. The image collector collects images of an object. The timing controller sets and stores a view map with the images in a view map correction mode and, in a 3D viewing mode, determines which of a plurality of viewing zones for a 3D image the object is located in and generates a barrier control signal for driving the barrier panel according to the determined result.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No.10-2011-0082358 filed on Aug. 18, 2011, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device, and moreparticularly, to a Three-Dimensional (3D) image display device and adriving method thereof, which display an image three-dimensionally.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

3D image display devices three-dimensionally display an image withcharacteristic where perspective is given in combining different imagesignals discerned by two eyes.

Such a 3D image display technique is largely categorized into astereoscopic technique, a volumetric technique, and a holographictechnique.

Among these techniques, the stereoscopic technique is again categorizedinto a glasses technique and a glassesless technique. Recently, theglassesless technique is being actively researched.

The glassesless technique is again categorized into a lenticular lenstechnique and a parallax barrier technique using a parallax barrier.

Recently, as disclosed in Korea Patent Application No. 10-2008-0070497,a method is being developed where a display device tracks a viewer'smotion through eye-tracking, and varies the image transmission effect ofa barrier panel according to the tracked position of the viewer, therebyenabling the viewer to watch a 3D image from an orthoscopic zone evenwhen moving from a current position to another position.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram for describing a state where a relatedart 3D image display device is using an eye-tracking scheme.

In a related art 3D image display device 10, a barrier panel including aparallax barrier or a lenticular lens is disposed in the front of apanel in a sheet type or the like, and thus respectively suppliesdifferent images to a user's left and right eyes to realize a 3D image.

FIG. 1 illustrates the 3D image display device 10 that displays a 3Dimage with nine views, and particularly illustrates a 3D image displaydevice including a barrier panel where light transmission characteristicvaries according to a voltage application scheme. Herein, for example,the barrier panel is configured with a liquid crystal electric fieldlens, and includes a switchable liquid crystal lens or a switchablebarrier where a light transmitting direction varies according to thevoltage application scheme.

The related art 3D image display device 10 of FIG. 1 tracks a viewer'sposition with an image collector 20 for eye-tracking, changes a voltageapplication scheme for the barrier panel to vary the light transmissioncharacteristic of the barrier panel according to the tracked position ofthe viewer, and thus allows the tracked position to correspond to anorthoscopic zone, thereby enabling the viewer to view a normal 3D image.

Such an eye-tracking glassesless 3D image display device checks a viewformed at the center thereof, thereby detecting a difference between acenter point detected by the 3D image display device and a center pointdiscerned by the viewer.

A method, which detects the difference between the center point detectedby the 3D image display device and the center point discerned by theviewer, is performed through an operation where a measurer(manufacturer) directly measures the number of a corresponding viewmeasured from the center point to check a view number in the center,namely, the number of center views, at a stage of manufacturing a 3Dimage display device.

A view map created by the method is predetermined as certain relativepositions from the 3D image display device, in which case the positionof the center view (being the center point) is also predetermined.Therefore, when a viewer actually watches 3D images displayed by the 3Dimage display device, the 3D image display device varies the lighttransmission characteristic of the barrier panel according to theviewer's position, by using the viewer's position coordinates tracked bythe image collector and the view map predetermined through theoperation. Accordingly, viewers can watch normal 3D images from anorthoscopic zone at any time.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to provide a 3D imagedisplay device and a driving method thereof that substantially obviateone or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the relatedart.

An aspect of the present invention is directed to provide a 3D imagedisplay device and a driving method thereof, which output two testimages to receive two view selection signals and set a new view map byusing coordinates of a position from which the two view selectionsignals are received and the number of views for a panel, in a view mapcorrection mode, and control a barrier panel to switch the position ofan orthoscopic zone by using a view map and position coordinatesextracted from an image, in a 3D viewing mode.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows and in part will become apparentto those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of thefollowing or may be learned from practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there isprovided a 3D image display device including: a panel including aplurality of left-eye pixels and right-eye pixels; a barrier paneldisposed at a front surface of the panel, and including a lighttransmitting area and a light blocking area for transmitting or blockinga left-eye image and a right-eye image which are respectively outputtedfrom the left-eye pixel and the right-eye pixel; an image collectorcollecting images of an object; and a timing controller setting andstoring a view map with the images in a view map correction mode and, ina 3D viewing mode, determining which of a plurality of viewing zones fora 3D image the object is located in and generating a barrier controlsignal for driving the barrier panel according to the determined result.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 3D imagedisplay device including: a panel including a plurality of left-eyepixels and right-eye pixels; a barrier panel disposed at a front surfaceof the panel, and including a light transmitting area and a lightblocking area for transmitting or blocking a left-eye image and aright-eye image which are respectively outputted from the left-eye pixeland the right-eye pixel; an image collector collecting images of anobject; an image data alignment unit realigning video data suitably forthe panel to output image data, the video data being received from asystem; a position determination unit extracting position coordinates ofthe object from the images; and a control unit outputting a test imageto the panel, generating and storing a view map by using a plurality ofview selection signals received from the system and the positioncoordinates of the object extracted by the position determination unitwhen the view selection signals are received from the system, in theview map correction mode and, in the 3D image viewing mode, determiningwhich of a plurality of viewing zones for a 3D image current positioncoordinates of the object correspond to using the current positioncoordinates and the view map and generating the barrier control signalfor driving the barrier panel according to the determined result.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drivingmethod of a 3D image display device including: outputting a first testimage, generated with a first view, onto a panel, receiving a first viewselection signal from a system, and extracting first positioncoordinates of an object in the middle of receiving the first viewselection signal, when a view map correction mode is selected;outputting a second test image, generated with the first view, onto apanel, receiving a second view selection signal from the system, andextracting second position coordinates of the object in the middle ofreceiving the second view selection signal, when the first viewselection signal is received; generating a view map with the first andsecond position coordinates to store the view map, the view mapincluding coordinates of a plurality of orthoscopic zones which areformed with a 3D image including at least two or more views; andcontrolling a barrier panel by using current position coordinates of theobject and the view map such that the current position coordinatescorrespond to an orthoscopic zone, when a 3D image viewing mode isselected, the current position coordinates being extracted from imageswhich are collected by an image collector.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram for describing a state where a relatedart 3D image display device is using an eye-tracking scheme;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a configuration of a 3Dimage display device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an internal configuration ofa timing controller of a 3D image display device, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a viewing zone displayed asnine views for describing a driving method of a 3D image display device,according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a driving method of a 3D imagedisplay device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a configuration of a 3Dimage display device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The 3D image display device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention enables a viewer (which is viewing a glassesless 3D imagedisplay device using eye-tracking) to directly set and store a view mapthat includes coordinates information on an orthoscopic zone andpseudoscopic zone of the 3D image display device.

For this end, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the 3D image display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a panel100 where a plurality of left-eye pixels and right-eye pixels areformed; a barrier panel 140 that is disposed at a front surface of thepanel 100, and includes a light transmitting area and a light blockingarea for transmitting or blocking a left-eye image and a right-eye imagewhich are respectively outputted from a left-eye pixel and a right-eyepixel; an image collector 150 that collects images of an object througheye-tracking; a timing controller 110 that sets and stores a view mapwith the images collected by the image collector 150 in a view mapcorrection mode and, in a 3D viewing mode, determines which of viewingzones for 3D images the object is located in using the images collectedby the image collector 150 and generates a barrier control signal fordriving the barrier panel 140 according to the determined result; a gatedriver 130 that sequentially applies a scan pulse to a plurality of gatelines formed in the panel 100; a data driver 120 that applies digitalimage data (RGB) signals to a plurality of data lines formed in thepanel 100, respectively; and a barrier driver 160 that drives thebarrier panel 140 to switch between the orthoscopic zone and thepseudoscopic zone according to the control of the timing controller 110.

The 3D image display device according to the present embodiment may beimplemented as a flat panel display device such a Liquid Crystal Display(LCD), an Field Emission Display (FED), a Plasma Display Panel (PDP),Electroluminescence device (EL), or an Electrophoresis Display (EPD).However, for convenience of a description, the LCD will be describedbelow as an example of the present invention.

The panel 100 may be implemented in various types according to the typeof a display device. For example, the panel 100 may be a liquid crystaldisplay panel, a plasma display panel, an organic light emitting displaypanel, or an electrophoresis display panel. Hereinafter, for convenienceof a description, the liquid crystal display panel will be described asan example of the panel 100.

A plurality of pixels for displaying red, green, and blue (RGB) areformed in the panel 100. The pixels are divided into a plurality ofleft-eye pixels that display a left-eye image and a plurality ofright-eye pixels that display a right-eye image, for displaying 3Dimages in operational connection with the barrier panel 140.

The timing controller 110 receives a timing signal (including a dataenable signal DE, a dot clock CLK, etc.) to generate a plurality ofcontrol signals DCS and GCS for respectively controlling the operationtimings of the data driver 120 and the gate driver 130.

The control signal GCS for controlling the gate driver 130 includes agate start pulse (GSP), a gate shift clock (GSC), a gate output enablesignal (GOE), and a shift direction control signal (DIR). The controlsignal DCS for controlling the data driver 120 includes a sourcesampling clock (SSC), a polarity control signal (POL), and a sourceoutput enable signal SOE).

In the view map correction mode, The timing controller 110 according toan embodiment of the present invention outputs a test image to the panel100, and generates and stores a view map by using a plurality of viewselection signals received from a system and position coordinates thatare extracted by a position determination unit (114 in FIG. 3) when theview selection signals are received. In the 3D image viewing mode, thetiming controller 110 determines which of viewing zones for 3D images anobject is located in using the view map and the current positioncoordinates and of the object, and generates the barrier control signalfor driving the barrier panel 140 according to the determined result.The function of the timing controller 110 will be below described indetail with reference to FIG. 3.

Hereinafter, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the timing controller 110 will bedescribed as including elements for realizing a driving method of the 3Dimage display device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. Inaddition to the timing controller 110, a separate controller thatincludes a reception unit 111, a position determination unit 114, alookup table 116, a test image storage unit 115, and a control unit 117may realize the function of the present invention, and may be includedin a 3D image display device. However, in the below description of thepresent invention, for convenience of a description, the timingcontroller 110 will be described as including the elements.

The data driver 120 includes a plurality of data drive IntegratedCircuits (ICs), and latches digital image data RGB according to thecontrol of the timing controller 110. Furthermore, by converting thedigital image data RGB into a plurality of analog positive/negativegamma compensation voltages, the data driver 120 generates a pluralityof analog positive/negative pixel voltages and respectively supplies thepixel voltages to a plurality of data lines D1 to Dm.

The gate driver 130 includes one or more gate drive ICs, andsequentially supplies a scan pulse (gate pulse) to a plurality of gatelines G1 to Gn.

The barrier panel 140 includes the light transmitting area and the lightblocking area for transmitting or blocking a left-eye image outputtedfrom a left-eye pixel and a right-eye image outputted from a right-eyepixel. The barrier panel 140 switches between the light transmittingarea and the light blocking area according to the application order ofvoltages from the barrier driver 160 or the levels of the voltages,thereby switching the position of the orthoscopic zone that enables theviewing of 3D images.

The barrier panel 140 may be variously configured using a liquid crystalelectric field lens disclosed in Korea Patent Application No.10-2008-0070497 and technologies that have been known to those skilledin the art.

The barrier panel 140, for example, may be configured with the liquidcrystal electric field lens or the like, and configured with aswitchable liquid crystal lens or a switchable barrier where a lighttransmitting direction varies according to a voltage application method.

Various types of barrier panels that have been known to those skilled inthe art may also be applied to the present invention. The feature of thepresent invention is not limited to the configuration itself of thebarrier panel, and thus, a description on the barrier panel 140 will notbe provided below.

The barrier driver 160, as described above, drives the barrier panel 140to switch between the light transmitting area and the light blockingarea that are formed in the barrier panel 140. The barrier driver 160may be configured using technologies that have been known to thoseskilled in the art.

In the 3D image viewing mode, the barrier driver 160 applied to thepresent invention controls the barrier panel 140 according to a barriercontrol signal that is transferred from the timing controller 110.

The image collector 150 is built in the 3D image display deviceaccording to the present embodiment. The image collector 150 collectsimages of an object (viewer) that is located at a distance from the 3Dimage display device, and transfers the collected images of the object(viewer) to the timing controller 110.

That is, the image collector 150 collects images of a viewer (object)that is watching 3D images on the 3D image display device according tothe present embodiment. The collected images are transferred to andanalyzed by the timing controller 110, and thus, the positioncoordinates of the viewer are extracted from the images.

A camera may be used as the image collector 150, but the image collector150 may use an infrared sensor that determines a position using infraredlight.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an internal configuration ofthe timing controller of the 3D image display device, according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagramillustrating a viewing zone displayed as nine views for describing thedriving method of the 3D image display device, according to anembodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a viewing zone thatis displayed with image data including the nine views.

Referring to FIG. 3, the timing controller 110 applied to the presentembodiment includes: a reception unit 111 that receives video data andvarious timing signals (DE, CLK, etc.) from a broadcasting system; acontrol signal generation unit 112 that generates a control signal withthe timing signals transferred from the reception unit 111, and outputsthe control signal; an image data alignment unit 113 that realigns thevideo data, transferred from the reception unit 111, to be suitable forthe characteristic of the panel 100 and outputs the realigned imagedata; a position determination unit 114 that extracts the positioncoordinates of an object from the images collected by the imagecollector 150; a control unit 117 that outputs a test image to thepanel, and then generates and stores a view map by using a plurality ofview selection signals received from the system and the positioncoordinates of the object extracted by the position determination unit114 when the view selection signals are received from the system, in theview map correction mode, and determines which of viewing zones for 3Dimages the object is located in using the position coordinates of theobject and the view map and generates the barrier control signal fordriving the barrier panel 140 according to the determined result, in the3D image viewing mode; a lookup table 116 that stores view maps; and atest image storage unit 115 that stores test images.

The reception unit 111, as described above, receives the video data andthe timing signal, transfers the timing signal to the control signalgeneration unit 112, and transfers the video data to the image dataalignment unit 113.

The control signal generation unit 112, as described above, generatesthe control signals GCS and DCS for respectively controlling the gatedriver 130 and the data driver 120 with the timing signal transferredfrom the reception unit 111.

The image data alignment unit 113 realigns the received video data to besuitable for the characteristic of the panel 100, and transfers thealigned image data to the data driver 120.

Moreover, the image data alignment unit 113 may transfer test images,which are transferred from the test image storage unit 115 through thecontrol unit 117, to the data driver 120.

However, the control unit 117 may directly transfer the test images tothe data driver 120, in which case the image data alignment unit 113 maynot transfer the image data to the data driver 120 according to anoutput stop control signal received from the control unit 117.

The position determination unit 114 extracts the position coordinates ofa viewer that is watching 3D images on the 3D image display deviceaccording to the present embodiment, by using images collected by theimage collector 150.

The following description will be made on a method where the positiondetermination unit 114 determines the position coordinates of a viewerby using images collected by the image collector 150.

By scanning the image collector 150 in a direction from the left to theright or from the right to the left of the 3D image display device, theposition determination unit 114 or control unit 117 of the timingcontroller 110 may obtain width information (W_person, X coordinate) ofan object (viewer) that is located in the front of the 3D image displaydevice, and analyze the reflection time of infrared light to obtaindistance information (D_person, Y coordinate) of the object (viewer).

Particularly, the position coordinates (X,Y) of an object (viewer) maybe defined as expressed in Equation (1) below.(X,Y)={(W1+W2)/2,D_person}  (1)

For the above-described determination, the image collector 150 may movein a left and right direction or an upward and downward direction by adriver (not shown). The position determination unit 114 or the controlunit 117 may control the driver to control the position or angle of theimage collector 150, and thus, as described above, enable the imagecollector 150 to collect images through scanning.

When a camera is used as the image collector 150, X coordinate may bedetermined by a face detecting scheme, and Y coordinate may bedetermined using disparity information of a stereo camera or depthinformation of a depth camera.

That is, when a camera is used as the image collector 150, the positiondetermination unit 114 may determine the X coordinate of a viewer in ascheme that detects the face of the viewer from images collected by thecamera. Such a face detecting scheme may apply a general scheme, andthus, its detailed description is not provided.

Moreover, when a camera is used as the image collector 150, a stereocamera or a depth camera is applied as the camera, and thus, the Ycoordinate of an object (viewer) may be determined using informationcollected by the stereo camera or the depth camera.

The lookup table 116 stores a view map that is generated by the controlunit 117.

In the present embodiment, the view map denotes coordinates informationof a viewing zone that enables the viewing of 3D images displayed on the3D image display device. The viewing zone is divided into an orthoscopiczone, a pseudoscopic zone, and an invisible zone.

The orthoscopic zone is a zone that enables a viewer to normally watch3D images, and denotes a zone where a right-eye image is transferred tothe viewer's right eye and a left-eye image is transferred to theviewer's left eye.

In the pseudoscopic zone, since disparity information of an image istransferred, a viewer discerns images three-dimensionally. However, thepseudoscopic zone is a zone where a left-eye image is transferred to theviewer's right eye and a right-eye image is transferred to the viewer'sleft eye, and thus, the viewer's eyes feel fatigue more rapidly in thepseudoscopic zone.

The invisible zone is a zone that disables a viewer to watch the viewingof 3D images.

The view map includes coordinates information on positions where thethree zones are displayed.

However, all zones other than the orthoscopic zone and pseudoscopic zonecan be determined as the invisible zone, and thus, the view map may notinclude coordinates information on the invisible zone.

When the position coordinates of an object determined by the positiondetermination unit 114 are not included in a coordinate zonecorresponding to the orthoscopic zone or pseudoscopic zone where theposition coordinates are included in a view map, the control unit 117may determine a corresponding zone as the invisible zone.

As the number of views applied to the panel 100 increases, theorthoscopic zone, the pseudoscopic zone, and the invisible zone are morecomplicated and diversified.

That is, the control unit 117 cannot generate a view map by using onlythe position coordinates of images collected by the image collector 150.The control unit 117 can generate a view map by integratedly using thenumber of views displayed on the panel 100, the size of the panel 100,the pitch of each pixel formed in the panel 100, and the characteristicof the barrier panel 140.

Accordingly, the lookup table 116 may store various information that thecontrol unit 117 refers to for generating a view map, for example, mayfurther store at least one of: the number of views displayed on thepanel 100; the size of the panel 100; the pitch of each pixel formed inthe panel 100; and the characteristic of the barrier panel 140.

The test image storage unit 115 stores test images that are displayed onthe panel 100, in the view map correction mode.

The test image may be a first test image that is viewed only in a firstorthoscopic zone (one of orthoscopic zones included in the viewing zone)in a one side direction from the front center of the 3D image displaydevice, and a second test image that is viewed only in the firstorthoscopic zone (one of orthoscopic zones included in the viewing zone)in the other side direction from the front center.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the 3D image display device of thepresent embodiment is assumed as displaying images with nine views, afirst orthoscopic zone 171 formed by a first view is disposed within adistance leftward from a center direction a camera indicates, and asecond orthoscopic zone 172 formed by the first view is disposed withina distance rightward from the center direction. Accordingly, the 3Dimage display device of the present embodiment stores and uses testimages by using the first view that is shown in the first orthoscopiczone and the second orthoscopic zone.

Therefore, if the positions of the first and second orthoscopic zonesformed by the first view are determined, the intermediate position of Xcoordinates of the first and second orthoscopic zones may be designatedas the X coordinate of a center view.

Herein, as described above, the first and second test images are images,which are displayed on the panel 100 by the first view, among imagesdisplayed by first to nth views. The first and second test images may bethe same type of images or different types of images.

However, when a viewer designates a first orthoscopic zone with thefirst test image and then switches a position for searching the secondorthoscopic zone, the first and second test images may be outputted asdifferent images for informing the viewer of a need for positionswitching for the search of the second orthoscopic zone.

For example, the first test image for the search of the firstorthoscopic zone is displayed as 1, and the second test image for thesearch of the second orthoscopic zone is displayed as 2.

When a current mode is switched into the view map correction mode, thecontrol unit 117 may display 1 that is the first test image for thesearch of the first orthoscopic zone. When a first view selection signalis received from a user side, the control unit 117 may display thesecond test image displayed as 2 for the search of the secondorthoscopic zone.

In the view map correction mode, the control unit 117 sequentiallyoutputs the first and second test images, stored in the test imagestorage unit 115, to receive the first view selection signal and asecond view selection signal, and calculates an intermediate positionbetween the first and second orthoscopic zones as the position of thecenter view by using the position coordinates of a user (object) whenthe view selection signals are received. That is, the control unit 117calculates the position coordinates of the center view with a ½ point ofthe X coordinates of the first and second orthoscopic zones as the Xcoordinate of the center view and with a ½ point of the Y coordinates ofthe first and second orthoscopic zones as the Y coordinate of the centerview.

The control unit 117 generates the coordinates of a plurality oforthoscopic zones that are illustrated in FIG. 4, by integratedly usingthe center view, the number of views displayed on the panel 100, thesize of the panel 100, the pitch of each pixel formed in the panel 100,and the characteristic of the barrier panel 140. The control unit 117generates a view map including coordinates information on orthoscopic,pseudoscopic, and invisible zones by using the generated coordinates,and stores the view map in the lookup table 116.

When the view map is stored in the lookup table 116 in the view mapcorrection mode and then a current mode is switched into the 3D imageviewing mode, the control unit 117 determines which of orthoscopic,pseudoscopic, and invisible zones the current position coordinates of aviewer correspond to using the view map and the current positioncoordinates of the viewer collected by the image collector 150.

When the determined result shows that the current position coordinatescorrespond to the orthoscopic zone, the control unit 117 analyzes theview map and the current position coordinates of the viewer to generatea barrier control signal that allows the current position coordinates ofthe viewer to correspond to the orthoscopic zone, and transfers thebarrier control signal to the barrier driver 160.

In the 3D image viewing mode, the control unit 117 controls the barrierdriver 160 such that the current position coordinates of a user alwayscorrespond to an orhtoscopic zone.

Hereinafter, a driving method of the 3D image display device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detailwith reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a driving method of the 3D imagedisplay device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Left and right images, namely, images of two views are required to berespectively transferred to a left eye and a right eye so as to enable aviewer to recognize an image, outputted from the 3D image displaydevice, as a 3D image. However, in glassesless 3D image display devicesusing no special 3D image glasses, a zone enabling the viewing of 3Dimages is limited to a light path, and thus, image contents composed ofa plurality of views are required for expanding a viewing zone.

As the number of views increases, a zone enabling the viewing of 3Dimages is expanded. The number of views is predetermined by amanufacturer for the 3D image display device. Hereinafter, asillustrated in FIG. 4, a case where the 3D image display device of thepresent embodiment uses nine views will be described as an example ofthe present invention.

A viewing zone is relevant to the position of a viewer that is watching3D images, and may be divided into the following three kinds of zones.

A first viewing zone is a position suitable for the viewer watching 3Dimages, and is an orthoscopic zone where a left-eye image is transferredto the viewer's left eye and a right-eye image is transferred to theviewer's right eye.

A second viewing zone is a position where the viewer feelsthree-dimensionality but cannot watch 3D images, and is a pseudoscopiczone where the right-eye image is transferred to the viewer's left eyeand the left-eye image is transferred to the viewer's right eye.

A third viewing zone is a position that disables the viewer to watch 3Dimages, and is an invisible zone where combined left and right imagesare transferred to eyes or the viewer cannot watch 3D images itself.

To watch 3D images displayed on the 3D image display device, the vieweris required to be located in the orthoscopic zone where 3D images areaccurately realized.

However, it is not easy for a viewer to accurately find the orthoscopiczone. Therefore, the 3D image display device of the present embodimentincludes a function of automatically switching between the lighttransmitting area and the light blocking area of the barrier panel 140,in order for the viewer's position to become the orthoscopic zonealways. Particularly, in order for the switching to be performed moreaccurately, the 3D image display device of the present embodiment allowsa viewer to directly set a view map that includes information of areference point (position coordinates of a center view, etc.) for theswitching.

For this end, the driving method of the 3D image display deviceaccording to the present embodiment may be greatly performed in fourstages as follows.

A first stage includes operations S402 to S412 where when the view mapcorrection mode is selected, the first test image generated with thefirst view is outputted by the panel 100, the first view selectionsignal is received from the system, and first position coordinates of anobject are extracted in the middle of receiving the first view selectionsignal.

A second stage includes operations S414 to S418 where when the firstview selection signal is received, the second test image generated withthe first view is outputted by the panel 100, the second view selectionsignal is received from the system, and second position coordinates ofan object are extracted in the middle of receiving the second viewselection signal.

A third stage includes operations S420 and S422 that generate and storea view map having the coordinates of orthoscopic zones which are formedaccording to a 3D image having at least two or more views, by usingfirst and second position coordinates.

A fourth stage includes operations S424 and S426 where when the 3D imageviewing mode is selected, the barrier panel 140 is controlled in orderfor the current position coordinates of the object to correspond to anorthoscopic zone, by using the current position coordinates of theobject collected and extracted by the image collector 150 and the viewmap generated through the operations.

Hereinafter, the above-described four stages of the present embodimentwill be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

First, in the detailed operations of the first stage, the control unit117 of the timing controller 110 receives a view map correction requestsignal from the system in operation S402.

The view map correction request signal is initially received when the 3Dimage display according to the present embodiment has been turned on,when a 3D image is being outputted, or when a Two-Dimensional (2D) imageis being outputted.

That is, a viewer that is watching images displayed on the 3D imagedisplay device of the present embodiment may select a view mapcorrection request menu that is disposed at a case of the 3D imagedisplay device or a remote controller. In this case, the view mapcorrection request signal is received through the system by the controlunit 117 that is included in the timing controller 110 or a separatedevice for implementing the driving method of the 3D image displaydevice according to the present embodiment.

At this point, the control unit 117 outputs the first test image, storedin the test image storage unit 115, through the first test image inoperation S404.

Herein, the first test image is generated with the first view of two ormore views that are used by the 3D image display device according to thepresent embodiment.

That is, at least two or more views are required for displaying a 3Dimage. Information corresponding to each pixel is extracted from the twoor more views, thereby generating one screen that is displayed duringone frame. For example, the 3D image display device of the presentembodiment uses the first test image that is generated with the firstview, and moreover uses the second test image that is generated with thefirst view.

The reason, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is because the center view isdisposed at an intermediate position between first orthoscopic zones(which are formed with the first view) with respect to right and leftsides from the center of the panel 100, in forming the viewing zone ofthe 3D image display device. Therefore, when the center view is disposedat an intermediate position between orthoscopic zones which are formedwith an nth view, the first and second test images may be generated withthe nth view.

While the first test image is outputted by the panel 100, the controlunit 117 disallows the image data alignment unit 113 to output videodata (transferred from the system) to the data driver 120.

In the view map correction mode, the output of the test image isrequired, and thus, the control unit 117 may stop the driving of theimage data alignment unit 113, transfer the test image directly to thedata driver 120 or block video data inputted from the system to theimage data alignment unit 113, and transfer the test image to the imagedata alignment unit 113, thereby allowing the test image from the imagedata alignment unit 113 to the data driver 120.

While the first test image is outputted, the control unit 117 drives theimage collector 150 and thus allows the image collector 150 to collectimages of the object in operation S406.

When the view map correction request signal is generated by a viewerside (being a remote controller or the like) and then the first testimage is outputted by the panel 100, the viewer moves from a position(which is determined as the approximate center position of the 3D imagedisplay device) to a first side direction 910 (for example, a leftdirection in FIG. 4) in operation S408, and simultaneously determineswhether the first test image is clearly shown in operation S410.

The viewer side transfers the first view map selection signal from aposition (where the first test image is determined as clearly beingshown) to the 3D image display device by using the first view mapselection menu included in a remote controller or the like in operationS412. When the first view map selection signal is received, the controlunit 117 stores the current position coordinates of the viewer side,extracted by the position determination unit 114, as first positioncoordinates.

In detailed operations of the second stage, when the first viewselection signal is selected through the above-described operations, thecontrol unit 117 outputs the second test image (which is generated withthe first view) onto the panel 100, at which point the viewer moves to asecond side direction 920 (for example, a right direction in FIG. 4)that is a direction opposite to the first side direction in operationS414 and simultaneously determines whether the second test image isclearly shown in operation S416.

The viewer side transfers the first view map selection signal from aposition (where the second test image is determined as clearly beingshown) to the 3D image display device by using a second view mapselection menu included in the remote controller or the like inoperation S418. When the second view map selection signal is received,the control unit 117 stores the current position coordinates of theviewer side, extracted by the position determination unit 114, as secondposition coordinates.

In detailed operations of the third stage, the control unit 117 extractsthe X coordinate of the center view that is generated with a 3D imageoutputted from the 3D image display device, by using the first andsecond position coordinates that have been extracted through theabove-described operations in operation S420.

When the image collector 150 is configured with an infrared sensor, anoperation where the control unit 117 extracts the X coordinate of thecenter view may use the X-axis coordinate of the first positioncoordinates and the X-axis coordinate of the second position coordinatesthat are calculated by scanning the infrared sensor in a predetermineddirection. Alternatively, when the image collector 150 is configuredwith a camera, the operation may use the X-axis coordinate of the firstposition coordinates and the X-axis coordinate of the second positioncoordinates that are calculated by the face detecting scheme.

In this case, the control unit 117 extracts the Y coordinate of thecenter view from images collected by the image collector 150. Herein,when the image collector 150 is configured with an infrared sensor, anoperation where the control unit 117 extracts the Y-axis coordinate ofthe center view may use the Y-axis coordinate of the object that iscalculated by analyzing the reflection time of infrared light outputtedfrom the infrared sensor, or when the image collector 150 is configuredwith a camera, the operation may use the Y-axis coordinate of the objectthat is calculated with disparity information or depth information thatis supplied by the camera.

That is, the center view denotes the position views of the centerportion of the viewing zone of the 3D image display device, and becomesa reference point for the control unit 117 determining an orthoscopiczone. Therefore, the control unit 117 extracts the position coordinatesof the center view through the above-described operations, therebysetting a determination reference for all orthoscopic zones.

Therefore, when the position coordinates of the center view areextracted through the above-described operations, the control unit 117generates a view map including the coordinates of orthoscopic zones thatare formed by the 3D image display device of the present embodiment, byusing the position coordinates of the center view and at least one of:the number of views displayed on the panel 100; the size of the panel100; the pitch of each pixel formed in the panel 100; and thecharacteristic of the barrier panel 140, and stores the view map in thelookup table 116 in operation S422.

The view map is generated by integratedly using the various information,with the center view as the reference point. The view map includescoordinates information on orthoscopic zones and pseudoscopic zones.

To provide an additional description, the view map includes the positioncoordinates of orthoscopic zones or pseudoscopic zones that areillustrated in FIG. 4.

When the generation of the view map that is used as referenceinformation for determining an orthoscopic zone is completed through theabove-described operations, a viewer can always watch 3D images,displayed on the 3D image display device of the present embodiment, fromthe orthoscopsic zone through the below-described final stage.

In detailed operations of the fourth stage, when the 3D image viewingmode is selected with a button that is disposed at an outer side of aremote controller of the 3D image display device, the control unit 117drives the image data alignment unit 113 normally, and thus allows 3Dimages to be normally outputted with video data received from the systemand extracts the current position coordinates of the object from imagescollected by the image collector 150 in operation S424.

At this point, the control unit 117 compares the extracted currentposition coordinates with the generated view map to determine whetherthe current position coordinates correspond to an orthoscopic zone. Whenthe determined result shows that the current position coordinates do notcorrespond to the orthoscopic zone, the control unit 117 calculates theamount of change in the light transmitting area and light blocking areaof the barrier panel 140 that allows the current position coordinates tocorrespond to the orthoscopic zone.

The control unit 117 generates the barrier control signal forcontrolling the barrier panel 140 according to the calculated amount ofchange, and transfers the barrier control signal to the barrier driver160.

When current position coordinates do not correspond to an orthoscopiczone, the 3D image display device automatically controls the lighttransmitting area and light blocking area of the barrier panel 140,thereby allowing the current position coordinates to correspond to theorthoscopic zone. For this end, the 3D image display device compares thecurrent position coordinates with the view map to approximatelydetermine which position the current position coordinates correspond to.

When the determine result shows that a current position is not theorthoscopic zone, the control unit 117 determines an error between thecurrent position coordinates and an orthoscopic zone with the view map,calculates the application scheme, application order, or levels ofvoltages (which will be applied to the barrier panel 140) for reducingthe error, generates the barrier control signal on the basis of thecalculated information, and transfers the barrier control signal to thebarrier driver 160.

The barrier panel 140 switches the light transmitting area thattransmits light outputted from the panel 100 and the light blocking areathat blocks the light according to the application scheme, applicationorder, or levels of voltages, thereby changing the position coordinatesof an orthoscopic zone or the like. The control unit 117 generates thebarrier control signal for switching the light transmitting area and thelight blocking area, and transfers the barrier control signal to thebarrier driver 160.

The barrier driver 160 receiving the barrier control signal changes theapplication scheme, application order, or levels of voltages (which willbe applied to the barrier panel 140) to switch the light transmittingarea and the light blocking area according to the barrier controlsignal, and thus allows the current position coordinates of the viewerto correspond to the orthoscopic zone in operation S426.

Various techniques that are used for switching the light transmittingarea and the light blocking area may be applied to the barrier controlsignal, in a switchable barrier technique or a switchable liquid crystallens technique.

A summary on the features of the present invention will now bedescribed.

According to the present invention, in the eye-tracking glassesless 3Dimage display device, a viewer directly generates and uses the positioncoordinates of a center view that is used as reference information fordetermining an orthoscopic zone.

In the 3D image display device of the related art, a manufacturerdirectly measures various view numbers in a viewing zone, and directlychecks and stores a center view number, namely, the number of centerviews and position coordinates.

On the contrary, in the present invention, a viewer that watches theeye-tracking glassesless 3D image display device can simply and directlycheck (calibrate) a center view that is formed at the center of the 3Dimage display device, and thus reduce an error of the center view thatoccurs between when manufacturing the 3D image display device and whenviewing 3D images displayed on the 3D image display device, therebyenabling the viewer to watch the 3D images from a more accurateorthoscopic zone.

For this end, the 3D image display device of the present inventionoutputs an arbitrary pattern (first test image generated with a firstview) that is clearly shown when a viewer is accurately located at theposition of a 1view (left-eye 1view or right-eye 3view in FIG. 4) (inwhich case an orthoscopic zone is referred to as a first orthoscopiczone).

The viewer transmits a signal (first view selection signal) from apattern-checked position to a system by using a remote controller, movesto the position of a 2view (second orthoscopic zone), and againtransmits a signal (second view selection signal) from the movedposition to the system by using the remote controller, whereupon thesystem determines the position of a center view and the width of asingle viewing zone.

By dividing the length of the width by the number of views (nine in FIG.4) that are used in the panel 100, the width and position of one viewmay be obtained.

The control unit 117 generates a view map suitable of the viewer and aviewing environment, on the basis of the obtained information.

To provide an additional description, in the eye-tracking glassesless 3Dimage display device, when the view map correction mode is executed, thepanel 100 outputs a position check pattern (first test image). Thepattern (first test image) is clearly shown when a viewer is in theposition of a 2view accurately. The viewer transmits a specific flagsignal (first view selection signal) to the system by using a remotecontroller.

Subsequently, the viewer moves in a right direction and again finds aposition where the pattern (second test image) is clearly shown, andthen transmits the same flag signal (second view selection signal) tothe system by using the remote controller.

Then, the control unit 117 checks the width of a view map the viewerrecognizes and, by dividing the length of the width by the number ofviews, determines the width of each view the viewer recognizes actually.Therefore, the position of the center view is automatically corrected.

That is, the 3D image display device of the present invention sets tworeference points (first and second orthoscopic zones) with respect tothe position of a viewer by using the position check pattern (first andsecond test images), and automatically generates the view map.

Subsequently, in the 3D image viewing mode, the control unit 117determines whether the current position coordinates of the viewer(extracted by the image collector 150) correspond to an orthoscopic zoneby using the view map, and when the current position coordinates do notcorrespond to the orthoscopic zone, the control unit 117 controls thebarrier panel 140 such that the current position coordinates correspondto the orthoscopic zone.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the 3D imagedisplay device outputs two test images to receive two view selectionsignals and sets a new view map by using the coordinates of a positionfrom which the two view selection signals are received and the number ofviews for the panel, in the view map correction mode, and controls thebarrier panel to switch the position of the orthoscopic zone by usingthe view map and position coordinates extracted from an image, in the 3Dviewing mode, thus enhancing the viewing environment and image qualityof glassesless 3D image display devices.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A Three-Dimensional (3D) image display device,comprising: a panel comprising a plurality of left-eye pixels andright-eye pixels; a barrier panel disposed at a front surface of thepanel, and comprising a light transmitting area and a light blockingarea for transmitting or blocking a left-eye image and a right-eye imagewhich are respectively outputted from the left-eye pixel and theright-eye pixel; an image collector collecting images of a user; and acontroller setting and storing a view map with the images of the user ina view map correction mode that is selected by the user, wherein in a 3Dviewing mode, the controller determines which of a plurality of viewingzones for a 3D image current position coordinates of the user correspondto using the view map set and stored in the view map correction modethat is selected by the user and the current position coordinatesextracted by using the images collected by the image collector, and whena determined result shows that the current position coordinates do notcorrespond to an orthoscopic zone that is a comfortable zone for viewingthe 3D image, the controller adjusts the barrier panel so that thecurrent position coordinates correspond to the orthoscopic zone withouta change in a physical position of the user.
 2. The 3D image displaydevice of claim 1, wherein when a view map correction request signal isreceived, the controller is switched to the view map correction mode,outputs a first test image viewable from a first orthoscopic zone toreceive a first view selection signal, outputs a second test imageviewable from a second orthoscopic zone to receive a second viewselection signal, sets the view map with position coordinates from whichthe first and second view selection signals are received, and stores theview map.
 3. A Three-Dimensional (3D) image display device, comprising:a panel comprising a plurality of left-eye pixels and right-eye pixels;a barrier panel disposed at a front surface of the panel, and comprisinga light transmitting area and a light blocking area for transmitting orblocking a left-eye image and a right-eye image which are respectivelyoutputted from the left-eye pixel and the right-eye pixel; an imagecollector collecting images of a user; an image data alignment unitrealigning video data suitably for the panel to output image data, thevideo data being received from a system; a position determination unitextracting position coordinates of the user from the images of the user,the images of the user being collected by the image collector; and acontrol unit outputting a test image to the panel, generating andstoring a view map by using a plurality of view selection signalsreceived from the system and the position coordinates of the userextracted by the position determination unit when the view selectionsignals are received from the system, in a view map correction mode thatis selected by the user, wherein in a 3D image viewing mode, the controlunit determines which of a plurality of viewing zones for a 3D imagecurrent position coordinates of the user correspond to using the currentposition coordinates extracted by using the images collected by theimage collector and the view map set and stored in the view mapcorrection mode that is selected by the user, and when a determinedresult shows that the current position coordinates do not correspond toan orthoscopic zone that is a comfortable zone for viewing the 3D image,the controller adjusts the barrier panel so that the current positioncoordinates correspond to the orthoscopic zone without a change in aphysical position of the user.
 4. The 3D image display device of claim3, wherein in the view map correction mode, when a first test imageviewable from a first orthoscopic viewing zone is transferred to thepanel and then a first view selection signal is received from thesystem, the control unit temporarily stores the position coordinates,being coordinates at a time when the first view selection signal isreceived, as first position coordinates, when the first view selectionsignals is received, the control unit transfers a second test image tothe panel, and then when a second view selection signal is received fromthe system, the control unit temporarily stores the positioncoordinates, being coordinates at a time when the second view selectionsignal is received, as second position coordinates, and the control unitgenerates the view map with the first and second position coordinates.5. The 3D image display device of claim 4, wherein when a view displayedby the panel comprises first to nth views, the first test image is afirst image which is viewable from a first orthoscopic zone in one sidedirection with respect to a center coordinate, being a referencecoordinate among X coordinates of the images collected by the imagecollector, and the second test image is a second image which is viewablefrom a first orthoscopic zone in the other side direction with respectto the center coordinate.
 6. The 3D image display device of claim 5,wherein the first and second test images are the same type of images ordifferent types of images.
 7. The 3D image display device of claim 5,wherein the first and second test images are images, which are displayedon the panel with the first view, among a plurality of images displayedwith the first to nth views.
 8. The 3D image display device of claim 6,wherein the control unit calculates coordinates information of aplurality of orthoscopic zones which are formed between the first andsecond position coordinates by using the first and second positioncoordinates and the number of views, and generates the view map with thecoordinates information.
 9. The 3D image display device of claim 8,wherein the view map comprises: coordinates information of a pluralityof pseudoscopic zones which are formed between the first and secondposition coordinates; and coordinates information of a plurality oforthoscopic zones and pseudoscopic zones which are formed outside thefirst and second position coordinates.
 10. The 3D image display deviceof claim 9, further comprising: a lookup table storing the view map; anda test image storage unit storing the first and second test images. 11.The 3D image display device of claim 10, wherein, the lookup tablestores information on at least one of: the number of views displayed onthe panel, a size of the panel, a pitch of each pixel formed in thepanel, and characteristic of the barrier panel, and the control unituses the information integratedly when generating the view map.
 12. The3D image display device of claim 3, wherein when the image collector isconfigured with an infrared sensor, the position determination unitscans the infrared sensor in a predetermined direction to calculate an Xcoordinate of the user, and analyzes a reflection time of infrared lightoutputted from the infrared sensor to calculate a Y coordinate of theuser, thereby extracting the position coordinates.
 13. The 3D imagedisplay device of claim 3, wherein when the image collector isconfigured with a camera, the position determination unit calculates anX coordinate of the user in a face detecting scheme, and calculates a Ycoordinate of the user on the basis of disparity information or depthinformation which are supplied from the camera, thereby extracting theposition coordinates.
 14. The 3D image display device of claim 3,further comprising a barrier driver receiving the barrier control signalto drive the barrier panel, wherein the barrier driver changes anapplication scheme, application order, or levels of a plurality ofvoltages applied to the barrier panel to switch the light transmittingarea and the light blocking area, according to the barrier controlsignal.
 15. A driving method of a Three-Dimensional (3D) image displaydevice, the driving method comprising: outputting a first test image,generated with a first view, onto a panel, receiving a first viewselection signal from a system, and extracting first positioncoordinates of a user in the middle of receiving the first viewselection signal, when a view map correction mode is selected by theuser; outputting a second test image, generated with the first view,onto a panel, receiving a second view selection signal from the system,and extracting second position coordinates of the user in the middle ofreceiving the second view selection signal, when the first viewselection signal is received; generating a view map with the first andsecond position coordinates to store the view map, the view mapcomprising coordinates of a plurality of orthoscopic zones which areformed with a 3D image comprising at least two or more views;determining whether a current position coordinates correspond to anorthoscopic zone by using the current position coordinates of the userand the view map set and stored in the view map correction mode that isselected by the user, when a 3D image viewing mode is selected; and inthe 3D image viewing mode, when a determined result shows that thecurrent position coordinates do not correspond to an orthoscopic zonethat is a comfortable zone for viewing the 3D image, controlling abarrier panel so that the current position coordinates correspond to theorthoscopic zone without a change in a physical position of the user,wherein the current position coordinates is extracted from images whichare collected by an image collector.
 16. The driving method of claim 15,wherein the receiving of the first view selection signal comprises:receiving a view map correction request signal from the system;outputting the first test image onto the panel, the first test imagebeing generated with a first view of the at least two or more views;driving the image collector to collect images of an object the user; andextracting the first position coordinates from the collected images,when the first view map selection signal is received from the system.17. The driving method of claim 15, wherein the receiving of the secondview selection signal comprises: outputting the second test image ontothe panel when the first view selection signal is received, the secondtest image being generated with the first view; and extracting thesecond position coordinates from the collected images, when the secondview map selection signal is received from the system.
 18. The drivingmethod of claim 15, wherein the generating of the view map comprises:extracting an X coordinate of a center view with the first and secondposition coordinates, the center view being generated with 3D image;extracting a Y coordinate of the center view from the images collectedby the image collector; and generating and storing the view map by usingthe coordinates of the center view and at least one of: the number ofviews; a size of the panel; a pitch of each pixel formed in the panel;and characteristic of the barrier panel, the view map comprisingcoordinates of a plurality of orthoscopic zones which are formed withthe 3D image.
 19. The driving method of claim 18, wherein, when theimage collector is configured with an infrared sensor, the extracting ofX coordinate uses an X-axis coordinate of the first position coordinatesand an X-axis coordinate of the second position coordinates which arecalculated by scanning the infrared sensor, and when the image collectoris configured with a camera, the extracting of X coordinate uses anX-axis coordinate of the first position coordinates and an X-axiscoordinate of the second position coordinates which are extracted by aface detecting scheme.
 20. The driving method of claim 18, wherein, whenthe image collector is configured with an infrared sensor, theextracting of Y coordinate uses a Y-axis coordinate of the user which iscalculated by analyzing a reflection time of infrared light outputtedfrom the infrared sensor, and when the image collector is configuredwith a camera, the extracting of Y coordinate uses a Y coordinate of theuser which is calculated with disparity information or depth informationsupplied from the camera.
 21. The driving method of claim 15, whereinthe controlling of the barrier panel comprises: extracting currentposition coordinates of the user from the images which are collected bythe image collector, when a 3D image viewing mode; comparing the currentposition coordinates with the view map to determine whether the currentposition coordinates correspond to an orthoscopic zone; calculating anamount of change in a light transmitting area and light blocking area ofthe barrier panel which allows the current position coordinatescorrespond to the orthoscopic zone, by using the current positioncoordinates and the view map, when the current position coordinates donot correspond to the orthoscopic zone as a determined result;generating a barrier control signal for controlling the barrier panel totransfer the barrier control signal to a barrier driver, according tothe amount of change; and controlling, by the barrier driver, thebarrier panel according to the barrier control signal to switch thelight transmitting area and the light blocking area by the amount ofchange.